Melbourne Cup Firsts
Here is some trivia about the Melbourne Cup horse race, the first of many things. See also more Melbourne Cup trivia.
- The FIRST Melbourne Cup was run in 1861, and the winner was the horse Archer (see list of winners).
- The FIRST Melbourne Cup trophy was awarded in 1865. (see more trophy history)
- The FIRST time the race was postponed was in 1870, due to a waterlogged track. In 1916 the race was postponed again.
- The FIRST time the race was run on a Tuesday was in 1875, and has done so ever since (The first cup races were originally run on a Thursday)
- The FIRST time a public holiday was declared for the Melbourne Cup day was In 1877 (and is still).
- The FIRST time 100,000 spectators attended the Melbourne Cup was in 1880.
- The FIRST time bookmakers were licensed at Flemington was in 1882.
- The FIRST gold mounted whip was presented to the winning Cup jockey, Mick O'Brien, in 1888.
- The FIRST Melbourne Cup to be filmed was in 1896.
- The FIRST woman owner to win the Melbourne Cup was Mrs. Edith Widdis, who owned the winning horse Patrobas in 1915.
- The FIRST radio broadcast of the Melbourne Cup was made by the ABC in 1925.
- The FIRST year the totalisator operated at the Melbourne Cup was in 1931
- The FIRST time a camera photo finish was used was in 1948.
- The FIRST Melbourne Cup to start from starting stalls was in 1958.
- The FIRST "Fashions on the Field" was first held in 1962.
- The FIRST race run in Australia with prize money of $1 million was the 1985 Melbourne Cup, won by "What a Nuisance".
- The FIRST female jockey to ride in the cup was New Zealander Maree Lyndon on Argonaut Style.
- The FIRST northern hemisphere trained horse to win was Vintage Crop, from Ireland, in 1993.
- The FIRST Australian female jockey to ride in the cup was Clare Lindop on Debben in 2003 (previously only two New Zealand female Jockey's had ridden in the Cup; Maree Lynden and Linda Ballantyne)
- The FIRST and only horse to be a three time winner of the Melbourne Cup was Makybe Diva (2003, 2004, 2005). At the same time, jockey Glen Boss became the FIRST jockey to win three Cups in a row.
- The FIRST Japanese horse to win the Melbourne Cup was Delta Blues in 2006.
- The FIRST French horse to win Australia's biggest race was Americain in 2010.
- The FIRST German horse to win the Melbourne Cup was Protectionist in in 2014.
- The FIRST female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup was Michelle Payne on Prince of Penzance in 2015.
Related Pages
- More Melbourne Cup trivia.
- Melbourne Cup History
- More about the Melbourne Cup
- More about the Melbourne Cup prize money.
- List of Melbourne Cup Winners
Any comments, suggestions, or corrections? Please let us know.
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